Joey's CJ5 Jeep
Specs
Vehicle: 1973 C J-5
Engine: 383 cu. in. big block stock 335 hp, out of a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner.
Transmission: 4-speed manual, out of a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner.
Transfer case: Dana 300, adapter plate used to bolt Chrysler tranny to Jeep transfer case.
Axles: Front: Dana 30, 3:54 ratio Rear: Dana 44, 3:73 ratio.
Supension: Trail Master 4" lift leaf springs, Trail Master SS Invader shocks and stablelizer shock.
Tires: Mud Campaigners 33 x 12.50 x 15.
Full padded roll cage and custom aluminum dash board.
Story
I purchased the jeep in june 1995. Me and my wife have been looking for a jeep toy to take
too Silver Lake sand dunes. We wanted something with plenty of power, something that looks
tuff, and something unique. The 383 engine gives the short wheel based jeep plenty of power
to bring the front end off the ground and burn'em in all four gears. The engine also makes this
jeep more unique because it's a chrysler power train. Not the common chevy 350 every body
puts in their jeep for a bigger motor. The big meats on chrome wheels, chrome grill and bumper
plus extra ground clearance made it look tuff. For $4,500 it came with 4 sand paddles, 2 extra
axles, extra transmission with tranfer case, axle trusses and 2 extra drive shafts. The body is
rust free amazing for a 1973. We could not pass this up.
Unseen problems
After purchasing the jeep unseen problems crepped up. One night I was driving down a
dark country road turned on the brights and all the lights went out. I could'nt get them back
on till I stopped while trying to stay on the road. It didn't take long to find out there was alot
of electrical problems. The tack would quit working when you turn the lights on. The brake
light was wired to a switch on the dash. Lights on the dash would burn out all the time. There
was alot of bare wires under the dash causing sparks. When I first took it to Silver Lake that
summer, the battery boiled over smelling like a rotten egg. I found out there was no voltage
regulator and a ballast resistor was missing in the ignition system. At silver lake the ride was
unenjoyable because of the stiff suspension. Twelve leaves in the front springs and seven in
the back. The blown shocks in the back didn't help the ride any adding a bucking effect.
When I wasn't smashing my mouth against the sterring wheel going through the whoops in
the sand, I saw that some of the body mounts were bad. Before I went to Silver Lake I had to
swap front axles, Because the 3:73 gears were bad on the jeeps front axle. The grinding in
third gear indicated a bad sinkronizer.
$3,000 later
Before the summer of 96 I had the rear axle rebuilt. I had the seals replaced at k&l in
lansing and they said the gears were pitted and needed to be replaced, also the splines were
shot on the axles. I bought all the parts except for the differential case for the front axle for my
nephew Jason to rebuild at school. I found one too late; school was done for summer. A new
trailmaster 4" suspension with ss invader shocks replaced the lumber wagon springs which
caused frame damage that I had to repair. This suspension added an extra 2" of height. The
change caused the rear drive shaft angles to be different and the offset for the 26" long drive
shaft was 9 1/2". I had to drop the transfer case 2" and pitch the rear differencial up 8 degrees
to bring the angle difference within 3 degrees to work. I had the transmission repaired,
replaced the bad wiring and added missing electrical components. Also I added a full roll cage
for protection and so the rear passengers wont have to wear a helmet at Silver Lake.
We had a great summer of 4 wheeling in 96. The jeep drove flawlessly and had much softer
ride making it much more enjoyable to drive especially on the sand dunes. I learned alot from
this experience, had alot of fun and no more fat lips.
Fire on the way to Silver Lake
Well I got divorced in june 1997, fought and managed to keep the jeep. I spent a week
before my trip to Silver Lake mid august 1997 tuning , maintenance getting it ready for the trip.
I made it a block past the gas station in Fruitport after filling it with gas. It caught on fire
burning up everything in the engine compartment and underneth and on the dashboard. The
hood and cowl were damaged by the intense heat. The insurance investigators said it was
caused by the fuel line vibrating loose at the carburator. I'm sure i checked it with my hands
but I guess should have checked the torque with a wrench. The fire would'nt have got so bad
if the starter wire did'nt melt and short to ground , causing the starter to crank the engine
pumping more gas in the engine compartment.
Rebuilding again
This project is scheduled to be done in the spring of 1999. I want to take my time and make
sure everything is done right. I have rebuilt the motor at L.C.C in the fall semester of 1997.
Cylinders have been bored 40 over and the new cam has a 280 duration and a 480 lift. The
body work and paint job will be done in the summer of 1998. Engine installation , new custom
wiring harnest and dashboard gages to be installed over the winter. One things for sure I'm
going to install an electric fuel pump so I can shut it off with a switch on the dash and will
have to be reset at the pump. Also the fuel pump can be shut off by the oil pressure switch to
save the engine if oil pressure drops to low. No more worries of a leaking diagram leaking gas
into the crankcase. I am going to install new steel and steel braided fuel line. There will also
be a fire extinguisher onboard and a hood lock that can be unlocked somewhere other than the
front of the jeep.
To be continued. Updated 6 / 1 / 98